Neverland Transit Authority

Even today it’s still considered the single worst transport accident in the Common Wealth…

The D’Wella 2 was moving a large supply of various volatile materials as a sub contractor during a Common Wealth sponsored mining operation of the large gas giant Temark in the Royce system.

The expedition was founded to expand further study of unidentifiable elements discovered within the lower atmosphere of Temrak for possible use as a fuel source. Seven companies were present under Common Wealth contract; including three sub contractors, such as The D’wella 2 – an independent freight rigger, more commonly known as a “Star Hopper” in the vernacular of The Rim. It’s noted that several prominent research and environmental teams were on board with the expedition; save noted liberal conservationist group The Adventurers Society – a relic from the early, and often romanticised, frontier days of the Second Space Age.  

On the fourth cycle of the second year of the operation disaster struck. While transporting a variety of volatile materials from low orbit reclamation to the research platform in lunar synchronous orbit The D’Wella 2 reported anomalies from various sample materials. Breaking standard protocols, the crew began an immediate inspection of the sample cargo when an energy spike was recorded from the ship. All communication went offline, power systems in the The D’Wella 2 became erratic, and it began to drift; venting gasses, fuel, and unknown waves of radiation.

At 16:33 a sudden surge from her drive system sent The D’Wella 2 spiraling into an orbital relay satellite. The resulting impact ignited her cargo. This, in turn, had an unforeseen catastrophic effect in the upper atmosphere. The resulting dispersal of energies cascaded through the upper atmosphere, causing a chain reaction that can only be described as an unraveling of the gas giant, Temark.

The resulting gaseous cloud of debris – which was the actual planet, itself, come undone - enveloped the entire expeditionary force, all installations, all five Temarkian moons, and a large amount of neighboring space. It took nearly two more years before radiation levels made it safe enough to approach the ensuing cloud mass. By then, all that was left of  expedition were two jettisoned data recorder probes that had managed to survive by riding the wave crest to a save enough distance.

Their contents have been deemed classified pending further review by official Common Wealth investigation.

Though there has never been any official release as to the cause of the disaster, or the long term affects of the cloud, the Temark Void – as it was labeled by chart makers - continues to create an alluring obstacle for local navigation. The properties of the gasses that make up the cloud cripple ship sensors and navigational equipment. And the unique light absorbing and refracting properties of the overlapping plumes can distort peripheral vision and depth of field. The end result is countless ships lost inside the void; some beyond rescue.

Navigation of the Temark Void is discouraged, and alternative routes are recommended when traversing this area of space.